© Peter Nicholls / ReutersA police car is seen standing in front of the Salisbury District Hospital, on April 10, 2018.
The UK has made it clear
it won't let Moscow meet Russian citizens ex-double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, as the dragging secretive probe into their poisoning speaks volumes to the observers, the Russian ambassador says.
"It has become clear that we will not get access to the Skripals. They [the British authorities] just will not provide it," Russian envoy to the UK Alexander Yakovenko told journalists on Thursday, following his meeting with Philip Barton, the Director General, Consular and Security at the British Foreign Office.
By blocking access to the Russians, London flagrantly violates its duties under a bilateral treaty on consular relations with Moscow, Yakovenko said.
The true fate of the Skripals, meanwhile, remains unknown, he pointed out.
London maintains that the Skripals do not want to meet with Russian officials. However,
neither the Russian ex-spy nor his daughter, Yulia, have publicly appeared to confirm it since the March poisoning. The Russian authorities never received any photos or voice recordings of the man and his daughter from the British side, Yakovenko said.
"We cannot conclusively establish what condition they are in as well as whether they are acting voluntary," Yakovenko said, adding that the answers that Moscow continues to get from London are "empty and formalistic."
Comment: The last statement on the whereabouts and well-being of the Skripals was from April 11, one month ago. It appears as if they have
no intention of providing further updates. Something is very wrong with this entire situation. It simply doesn't make any sense for the Brits to refuse any kind of contact with the public, media or with Russian diplomats - not even a recorded video statement or conference call.
Yulia's cousin tried to reach her via Facebook on May 1 but received no reply. This is what she
wrote:
"My darling sister, Yulia! You are not communicating with us, and we don't know anything about you and Sergey Victorivich. I know that I have no right to interfere in your affairs without asking your permission, but I worry too much. I worry about you and your dad. I also worry about Nuar. [Nuar is Yulia Skrial's dog, whom she left to stay at a kennel center, while she was traveling to the UK.] He is now at the dog hotel, and they want to get paid. We have to decide something what to do with him. I am ready to take him and to take care of him until you come back home. Besides Nuar, I am concerned about your apartment and your car. Nothing has been decided about their safety and maintenance. We can help with all that, but I need your power of attorney in my or my sister Lena's name. If you think that all of these is important, draw up a power of attorney form in a Russian consulate in any country. If you won't do that, we will understand and won't interfere in your affairs.
Vika"
Can no one in the media see what is going on here? Why is no one even asking the basic questions or expressing the slightest concern for Yulia Skripal (and her father)?
Comment: Iran has a right to defend itself.